Judicial Watch Obtains Documents Detailing the Cost to Taxpayers for Michelle Obama’s Family Trip to Africa
Charges for the Aircraft and Crew Alone Amount to $424,142
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- According to U.S. Department of Defense’s published hourly rates for the C-32A aircraft used for the trip, Judicial Watch calculated the total cost to American taxpayers was $424,142 for use of the aircraft (34.8 flight hours x $12,188 per hour). (The C-32 is a specially configured military version of the Boeing 757.) Other expenses – meals (off the plane), transportation, security, various services, etc. – have yet to be disclosed.
- The passenger manifests confirm the presence of Obama’s daughter’s, Malia and Sasha on the trip. The two girls are listed as “Senior Staff.” The manifests also list Mrs. Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, and niece and nephew, Leslie and Avery Robinson, as well Mrs. Obama’s makeup and hairstylist (Carl Ray and Johnny Wright).
- The expense records also show $928.44 was spent for “bulk food” purchases on flight. Overall, during the trip, 192 meals were served for the 21 passengers on board.
The professed purpose of Michelle Obama’s trip to South Africa and Botswana was to encourage young people living in the two growing democracies to become involved in national affairs; and during her scheduled stops in Pretoria and Cape Town, South Africa and in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, the First Lady used the opportunity to speak on education, health and wellness issues.The trip also included such tourist events as visits to historical landmarks and museums, plus a nonworking chance to send time with Nelson Mandela, a meeting that Mrs. Obama described as “surreal.” The trip ended with a private family safari at a South African game reserve before the group returned to Washington on June 27.“This trip was as much an opportunity for the Obama family to go on a safari as it was a trip to conduct government business,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “This junket wasted tax dollars and the resources of our overextended military. No wonder we had to sue to pry loose this information.”
Readers Comments (26)
And yet in spite of the blatant and arrogant First Family with an “in your face, I don’t care whether you like it or not, I’m going to do anything I want whether it’s constitutional or not and I dare you to anything about it” attitude, there are still a huge number of fools who will vote for this man to continue to be the “leader” of this great nation. It’s almost beyond comprehension that there are so many ignorant, gullibe idiots in this country.
This is amazing. People get fired in business for this!
What really distresses me, besdes the obvious, of course, is the fact that they totally get away with everything, and nobody does anything to stop the corruption, graft, and total disregard for America and our people! How can we be so blind ~ so negligent, as to let this continue????
Seems to me that if I named my children as senior staffers I might be in violation of the Child Labor Laws. But then, I am not the Potus or the 1st L. I am also not running the most honest and ethical, the most open administration in the history of the office, either.
Mrs. Obama just had to address the people about health and wellness issues. I’m sure there are a lot of overweight people in Africa, right?! I can’t believe how she not only pokes her nose into our eating habits and food we MUST eat, but then goes on a junket to tell the world how they should do the same thing! And certainly their two daughters made great “Senior Staffers.” Michelle’s mother and niece/nephew were probably quite delighted to be pampered by our tax dollars. Please! Give me a flippin’ break!!! No wonder they needed Mrs. Obama’s TWO hairdressers. The DEMAND (in more ways that one!) to care for the four women were quite likely more than ONE could handle! But then to make Michelle look good probably does take the devotion of the two stylists at the same time. I don’t wish working for that family on my worst enemy!!! Just taking care of them and all their whims, alone, has probably cost us one of the multitrillion dollars that has been racked up since Obama took over as king…..er, I mean President.
The total arrogance & disconnect of this president, his wife & administration are nothing short of utter amazement !! I am flabbergasted at the ruin they are causing at the expense of American taxpayers & are doing so without so much as even an ounce of concern for the terrible and destructive image they have created !! Obama & his administration are without the worst thing to happen to America since 911 !! Granted, 911 resulted in the death of thousands & while Obama & his administration haven’t caused that, they have created as much ruin & destruction to the American way of life & our sacred Constitution !! His departure from office will be an occassion for America to celebrate & to be able to look forward to our nation returning to it’s former greatness !!! He is a shameful disgrace !!!
Why should this extravagant life style surprise anyone? What did you expect would happen with this administation? It is sad to say, but we have another 4 years of this conceited, arrogant, incompetent @#$%#%$&^#$763547634
redisribution of wealth f rom the taxpayers to the millionaire Obamas . How about that!